omadhaun

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Irish amadán, introduced into English via literature and political speech.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɒmədɔːn/

Noun

omadhaun (plural omadhauns)

  1. (Ireland) A fool, someone who is out of their senses, simpleton.
    • 1906, Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson, A Story of Outback Life:
      […] an Omadhaun is a man who began life with some sense, but lost most of it on his journey.
    • 1905 (date written), James Joyce, “Grace”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 198:
      It is supposed—they say, you know—to take place in the depot where they get these thundering big country fellows, omadhauns, you know, to drill.
    • 1983, Hugh Kenner, A Colder Eye:
      Tin trumpets some of the omadhauns had brought along to bray with […]
    • 1996, Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes:
      "No, you omadhaun. It bites your shoulder, rips it right off."
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